Shoe form



June 2l, 1927. w. J. DE WITT SHOE FORM 4 SheetsiSheet 1 Filed May l2, 1926 1,6 2, June 2l, 1927. w. J. DE WITT i 3 955 suoi: von! Filed nay 12. 192e 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 2l 1927' w. J. DE wlT'r SHOE FORM Filed May 12. 1926 4 sheets-sheet 3 lvm-@7221.70.71 vmrZ-eW @'13 @M Patented June 2l, 1927i wim, von ennemi," vom;

ericsson;

- Application nled May 12,

This Vinvention Apertains 1to hollowA fthin walled vforms, for.- example, shapingV formsor fillers. for shoes". the present application art continuation. ,o my. application Serial o. 5,746'filed J nnuary 30, 1 92'5.v

Forms o'f the kind herein disclosed constitute one species of the genus which includes devices variously termed forms, trees, stillbeing .a

eners, etc., some of which are intendedjfor -I insertion ine -iinished shoe to preserve its shape temporarily while; yon n vexhibition .or .during intervals .ofA weer, while others, VAfor exemple, toelbo'xes, connterspetcyareeda t .ed to be incorporated course of# manufacture, p thel inventionherein chosen foiillustration being of,l that species which-is placed i temporarily in thecompleted-or partial] *com-A pleted shoewvlielinot' in'- use, althouf'li it is contemplated tlmt in'some of inonder aspects the invention moy Ybeifound usefnlin respect 'to devices belonging other species lof the genus.

of utility under many circumstances, as, for cxnnriple,

smooth, and free from wrinkles while exposedfor sale in. shoe cases orstore windows, lthey are designed primarily forthe use of .traveling salesmenl to enable them to hold their sample-shoes in, proper shape during transportationfand xvlnle on exhibition.

For this purpose4 it is importnntythat the form be. flexible 'and veryf i ht' in weight while strong enough to fulfi purpose outer sinace ofthe form be smoothn'nd substantially 'an exact replica, V-bothin size.l and shape, of the lest uponl which the shoe to bcplaced thereon was made. It is also .important that the size andshape of the form shall notV change .byreasongof varietions in temperature -o1atmosphericmoisl ture.

tempts have been mai-de vto make such vforms from plastic or sheet materiel, but so far as I know, thel methods ofprodnctionemployed havenll been unduly slow, and involve the nseof adhesives, the formation of' seams, or slow drying or-baking operations which kee the l'ast outof AYuse for a long period, w ile the finished forms-have in most instances been found to be oversized :in-:Shoes dering-'j @l thelieinbodimcnt of- -reslllent thz'it -it 'While forms, suchv :is hereinl disclosed are for ,keel'iing shoes plumped out,

substantially the f Fig;v 4' is .n .fragments i secti its intended .tially onthe line 1l-4 f; roperly,A land, essential that fthe Fig. is Aa .".usefiilin ma ing the i I showing-a. blank in positionv upon the cush. I am awa-re that heretofore various at i926. senin No. 108,539.

-' by reason of the necessary thickness of the material employed,` and so rigid and unyielding as to impart to the shoe v.thef-feel Sil. prodn' of n .low-grade. leather. Moreover, forms are heavy, and expensive to" bythe usual methods, and so;britt1e tlia.t they break when too closely packed. 7 In accordance with the present invention provide a shoe form of substantially the exact size and shape of the last ut'pon which lthe shoe is made, suc-h form beingoextr'elncly light wei htendghavin the desired stiffness audfiexi ility ,and not eingf'eifectedbyuvariations in Atem v pheric humidity, ind which is .so tough end` 1s not easily broken Vand when. deformed tends to resume its original l. In the accompanying drawings): have illnstriited by lwey of 'exemple a. .preferred embofllmentof improved form itself,': various g stepsn a. preferred process of makin the form, fand certain lnovel instru'mentelities useful-in performing such process.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation to small scale of a fore-pmt form removed from the last;

Fig. 2 is n' plan view of larger scale, but provided claw; Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the form upon with a vretaining sanne scale as Fig.`2;

jon substan- Y ig.,3;' Irg. 5-is`lz1. side elevetion illustrating a nliodllied form intendedV4 Ato fill the entire sioe;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a .blank Suitable for making a form such as shown in Figs. 1,2a11d3'; 1 hm view of a steamcushion improved formf-i ion and the fore-part of a last resting'upon the blank; l

Fig. 8 is n. vien' sinlilarto Fig. 7 but showing the blank and lnst in a later stage in the process;

F 1g. 9 is front elevation ofthe cushion shown in Fig. 7 showing the lnst andthe cushion support in section and the blank ata. Vste-,ge intermediate those shown in Figs. 7 sindv 8;

my invention, vincluding the the seine formA to I Fig. l() is a. vertical transverse section illustrating unothernp )hence useful in performing n hater step ot theproccss, the Inst with the blank c-.lrried there y being shown' vthe forni;

Fig 14 isa vertical' section through un ap hence seine-whatsimilur to thut shown Ain ig. 10 but o modified forni;

Fig.. 15 is n. view similari' to' lSigr. le. hut illustrating n different inode ot using the upplinnce;

Fig. 16 is a Eliront elevation ol the lei-'ice shown in Fig.. lil; showing n last in transverse section;

. fig. vl'-is u. side elevation of n machine embodying the cushion of Fig. 7 `as an elelnent'and adapted to prethe lest into con-- tact with the .cushion to forni above the. lest' Eig. 1S is a side elevation of :in uppliunce useful in impressingthe vforni with su'itnblc indicia. nndin flattening and :shaping the Alower edges of the forni;

Fig..19 is a fragmentary top pluri View of the orepert of n last furnished with incised or intaglio indicia for use `Wit-h the ep )linneo of Fig'. 1S in imprcssnig the inishe forni with identiiyinw indicia.;l and Fia. 2O is a. View similar toig. 3 but showing a modilied form of retaining claw. i

The improved form herein disclosed muy be mude'o :my suitable materiel haring the necessury physical characteristics. Among other substances with-which I have experimented I hure found Celluloid und buklelite to be ver-y sntisfuctory. For conveuience in description I have referred hereinciter to eelluloid,l which may, ii' desired, be transparent or of any selected color, as the material of the improved lforni, but so far as the broader espectsof the invention are concerned do not wish 'to rtrict myself to this particular material.

Referring to' Fig. 6, the numeral l indientes in general e blank of substantially U shape which may be cut` or unched from a sheet of the-selected mnteri" or which may otherwise be prepared, for example, by moulding the individuel blanks Afrom the materiel inplastic or fluid condition or slic ving the blnlr from a. properly shaped block.

This blank, by vwhatever process prepared, comprises the fore-part 2 and the spaced legs 3 und 4 which terminate' at the corners 5 and 6 respectively. Preferably, these blanks are unsynnnetrical., permitting them to be conformed to r'mht and left hists without necessitating undue trimming uta later Astage in the operation.

vthat herein disclosed, I ,prefer to employ the The appliances illustrated in' the drawings. upplinncc shown more particularly in Figs. 7, S numeral 7, and consists essentiully of u cushion or bag comprising the upper uzrll S and the lower wull 9. Both wells may he of 'the saine material if desired, but itis contemplnted that under most circumstances the upper wall will be of some nmteriul. for example, textile fabric, which is porous or at least to suine extent pervious to steam. This bag preferably rests upona forwardly in'- clined support 7 forming e -rlsebottoni for un open topped box 7b whose sides confine the cushion laterally;

'lhe upper und lower wells oi this cushion or bug are preferably, though not necessarily, muted by u. scam 10 extending' fromA the front of the cushion toward 'the rear, out terminating ut the point Ilnt some d15- tunce from' the rear edge 'of thecushion.V

The cushion is rovided 'nt e convenient point with an inlet connection l2 through which steamv or any other suitable elastic Huid muy be admitted to inlute the cushion'. By reason of the seam at 10 uniting the upper V:ind lower walls of the cushion the tor- Ward part ofthe cushion when inflated nsf srunes the form of two' upwardly convex vlobes 14 and 15 respectivelyY whose upper surfaces gradually merge into each other at the rear central part of the cushion as indicated at 15 (Fig. 7).

This cushion ino-y be employed itdesired to 'assist'in performing the desired opera.- tion without further ndjuncts, but it is preferred to combine with-the cushion the other' mechanical vfeatures illustrnted'n Fig. l".

and 17 is designated generally 'hy the 1 For this purpose the box 7" is preferably A.

mounted upon e tnole or stand 7 supporting benrlngs i'or n shaft 17 extending suh Vstnntinlly parallel to the front edge of the cushion and spaced 'from the letter. This shaft'17 carries an upwardly directed spindle 1S upon which a. lust 19 muy he mounted. The shaft 1 7 is also furnished with ven arm 2O to which e link 21 is conmzcted,A Athe-lower Y end ot' the link being )ivotelly secured to n treedle lever 22. Pre embly the link 21 is furnished with a locking pewl 23 adapted,A

when the treadle lever is depressed` to pass l below and to engage vthe under surface ot u lixed sto i Qft, thus holdingthe treadle in its depress posit-ion until the locking pawl 23 is released. The spindle 1S is Aso disposed that when the shaft 17 is rocked the spindle moves'substantiully in the vertical pinne of the seem 10 of the beg 7.

The first step in the herein described operation of conforming the blank l tothe last 19-consists in laying the blank'upon the upper surface of thebag'( with its axis of symmetry substantiallyA 1n the vertical `plane of the 4seem 10 of the bag. Itbeing understood that the bac has already been inflated with hot steam, the heat-of thebeg, assisted by the moisture which exudes throuffhthe pores ofthe bug, rapidly softens; the blank, and when the last 19" is placed upon the spindle 18 and the treadle lever 22 is depressed,'the downwardly;

swinging fore-purtfof thel lust engages the blanket its center and thrusts the letter down into and between the '1`obes14 und 15 vof the beg or cushion.

Asthe surface of the blenkyadhereslto some lextent to thesurfirce ofthe cushion this downward thrust tends to drag or Vdre-w the lank up around the side portions of the b sides of the'last while toe ortion of the blank is conformed to toe of tiie lust;v 'Whenthe treadle has been sufficiently depressed it is locked `byfengzige;v

ment 'of the persil-23 with' the abutment 211,

4sind the o crater' now seizes the outer corners und 6 O fthe blank and draws them up over the shank ofthe last and secures them by means of tracks 26 and 27, or other form of fasteners, for exemple', a pin or pins .rejectving fromJthe bottom ofthe last. -T is upward and rearward pull exerted at the rear corners of the blank, assisted by the inward bulging of the bag over the bottom of the last, Fig. 9,' l'tends to turn in the upwardly projecting edges oftheblcnk to cause them to ovcrlie thejbottom ofV thel lastnnd'form iizuiges v28-und 29 respectively. Due vtothe fullness of' the material et the, toe ofthe lust, wrinkles 30 tend to format this point'.

After the steps above described have been completedthe treadle is released and thelast' with the partially moulded form is removed from the steam cushion 7. The toe portion of the lust with Vthe form thereoninuy thon be thrust 'into .epneumetic cushion '44 (Fig. 14) preferably mounted in un open topped box 45 and which is inflated with vairthrough u. suitable vnlvc connection 46. This cushion is preferably of cylindrical form, and when the forepart of the last is thrust into its upper wall, the fluid pressure acting in ull directions against the blank tcndsto' smooth it and conform it Aclosely to the toc of the last, at the same time cooling the blank and tending to cause it-'to set,

If desired, either in substitution for or: in laddition to the lustdescribed step, thelest mcy be thrust rightside btweenn air of 'tubular pneumatic cu ions 474 `an( 48 (Fig. respectivel These cushions-are conveniently mounte in a boxlike support 49, andA when. the last thrustvertically downward' between these cushions the 'action of the'cushions is'to drew the flange portions of the -blank 'inwardly in condensed from the steam .adhesive .or any et the saune time the opposite directions.

as indicated by the arrows 50 and -51- in Fig; 1 0v (thus cuusingit to lie flatrageinst the b ottom of thel'ust).` Either or both of the vlast operations described tend to flatten the wrinkles at the toe portionof the blank, until they assume the shape indicated.Y at in Fie'. 3. f

t this point or et some later staffe inthe operation 'as maybe desired,4 across liar {3 1 is p :iced across the bull portion of the last'and is attached nt its opposite ends to the flanges 28 and 29 respectively. This cross bei-v muy consist of vs single piece of sheetmaterial-similiu-'to thatfemployed'in Ina-kin the body of the form, or any other suitzib e material-if desired. The ends of this cross bar lmay be att-arched to the body of the forinbystaples, other suitable' fastening means. 1

As herein disclosed, I prefer to employ n twoply cross bur comprising superposed registering 'strips 32V und 38 respec'tlvely, which, as indicated in Figs. 11 and 12, are secured one to the other at their middle portions, for exemple, between the lines 34 and and 35 of Fig. l2 but which are free from each other et their end portions. In applying this two-ply cross burftlie ends of one ply, for exemple, the ply'33, are slipped between the bottom surface of the lust and-the flanges 28 und 29 ofthe form, while the ends of the other ply 82 overlap said flanges'.

While us above stated this cross bair muy be secured by means of rivets, staples or udhesives, Iprefcr, -when such bar is mode of Celluloid, to attach 'it to the body of the blank in'u homogeneous or'substantially integral manner by the use of a. solvent for the cellulloid. Forupplying such solvent in n .con-

venient fashion I prefer to cm ploy the device shown in Fig. 13, which comprises a receptecle 36,'for lthe solvent and n thin disk 38, vln'eferubly hnvinfY a 'bcvelled or V-edge 38, mounted cul plane with its lower po-rtion dipping into the'solvent in the receptacle 36. To facilitate the lifting of, solvent by means of thc disk I prefer to provide the latter with series of circumferentiu lly spaced recesses (nr-openings 39 extending entirely orvpuri. way `through the disk. While this disk may be turned in any desired manner, I prefer to provide it with n. rutchct wheel 39 :intl to move the ratchet wheel step by step by uleuns of o. lever 40 :free to turn on the shaft 37 und cnrrying n. puwl 41V engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel 39". The vlever 4() may be upon u. slmft 37 to relitto in a. vertirocked in :my suitable manner, for exemple, Y

ulink 4211 an arm When the cross bar 31 is to `be applied, .its I plies are separated und streddled over the edge of the disk 38 -which silinultunoously coats the opposed inner surfaces'of vthe plies with solvent. Vthen the bar is vplaced in position, its 'lies embrace the flanges 2S and Q9 of tho b ank and the eelluloid solvent attacks thesur'faees oi the flange and the cross barfand by partially dissolving fthem causes them to cohere .in a homogeneous or inteerall iashion when the solvent evaporates.

The rapid evaporation ofthe solvent and the liual shaping and flattening ofthe flanges and cross bar is conveniently accomplisheal` by pressing the bottom of the last against the stesi-1n can V'i' or sonic. other heated surface and the-n while the material ot' the form is still mobile, pressing the bottoni of thelast against the. han as shown in Fig. 16 which completes the shaping; and cools and sets the material.4 After these operations have been completed the 'Ecrin is allowed to cool com-v pletely whilev upon the last and the corners 5 and 6 are released from the asteners and trimmed oli' along thelinesb and 53 (Fig. 8) thus completing the form. I

For the' purpose of identiiyinnr the finished formsas to the sha-pe and size ot the last upon which they were lasted, it is desirable to provide them Withfsuitable indicia during the process of lasting. In accordance with a preferred mode of procedure, the last, as shown for example in Fig. i9, is provided with incised or intaglio indicia such as indicated at 5ft. Just belore the finished form has completely cooled and before it is withdrawn from the last, .the last- Withthe form thereon is mounted u on the Youshion'surface 38 (Fig. 18) (beate if -desired) of tilting table 56 pivoted to swing about a horizontal axis 57 upon a base or support 55. Thistable isthen tilted downwardly asindicated in dotted'lines in Fig. 1S until the toe portion of thelast is brought into forcible 'engagement with the resilient pressure roll or pad 59. lTo facilitate the operation the pad may be heated, for examp e, by a steam jet 59% The pressure of this roll or pad causes to sink into the. incised indicia on the last and as the blank cools the depressions are retained, thus forming integral indicia upon the form indicating with certainty the particular last upon which the form was made. While this mode of applying indicia is re- `garded as very desirable, it is, of course., to be understood that the indicia may be provided in other ways and either betere or after the completion of the form.

F or esnimple, the cushion may he brovided with an inner resilient stop pad (i0, Fig. 17, preferably consisting, 'ofan inflated rubber tube or bag and so positioned thatA as the last down into the cushion its movement will be limited by engagement with the pad 60. If the last be provided with incised indicia at the toe, the sheet 1naterial will 'be forced in'to such indicia by the thev material of the blank pressure of pad 60, while in' any,1 event even though the last be unprovided with such indicia, the pressurevot the' pad at this point assists in conforming the sheet material to the toe portion of thelast.-

IVhen the form is made o Celluloid, bakelite, or substances of Simi-lar physicalv properties, the material employed may be so thin, while providing all the stifl'ness necessary, that it does not appreciably difiei'in its outer' size and configuration from 'that of the last upon waich it was made. However, for greater oxactness, it may he preferred to subject the last to a preliminary operation to prepare it for the steps of"v the process above described.

Y -To this end the lastmay be subjected to l heat ora .dry .atmosphere for a suflieient length ottime to reduce its size to auamount equivalent to the thickness offtliejsheet material which is 'to he employed in making the lorin.. After the shrinking process the .pores ol the last are filled or impregnated with a moisture-resistant medium so that the last remains intliis shrunken condition indefinitely. When made upon alas't so treated, the completed form has an outer configuration and size which is' exactly like that of an untreated last of. the seme size and style so that when the. form is placed Within a shoe made upon such an untreated'last it fills the shoe to thesame extent as the ylast upon which the shoe was made.` The shoe thus presents the most attractive appearance possible, being,r Wholly free from :wrinkles or protnberances, While the form 'thus rovided isso resilientand flexible that it oes not detract from the. feel of l'the-leather of the shoe and does not materially add to its ObviouslyT similar resultsl could be obtained by making the lastiofsome material not aiiected by moisture, for example, bakelte and making the last` sufficiently under the standard size to compensate for the added thickness of the hollow'lorm,V

In order to retain the form in nr'oper position within 'the toe of the shoe may provide it with one or more retaining claws or diggers as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 9.0.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the claur device consists of: a length oi spring wire forming two helical coils C disposed side by side, the coils being closely Wound so that adjacent turns of each coil may be sprung; apart to receive the rear edge of the cross bar 32, 33 between them. ldfhen thus arranged the turns of the coils grip the cross bar with suieient force to keep the claw device in .operative position.

The opposite 'ends Cl and C2 of the wire forming the coils are bent downwardly and rearwardly and preferably sharpened to r0- vide points or prongs adapted to slip ong the inner sole of -the shoe as the forro is pushed forwardly into operative position,

but to op ose rearward' movement of the form by 'gginginto the substance of the inner sole.`

In vice is 'i 20l a. modifiedriorm ofY claw deown, such clavv device' v consisting of a piece'o-f resilient sheet metal'lShaving one ormore tabs Sl punched :therefromthe tabs and body of the claw device being adapted to grip the cross ba1^'32,'33 of the form between them, A prong S2` extendsl of the vmver'ition herein described are. ap-

plicable lto' the making of 'forepart f'forms ksuch. as shoivn in Figs; l to 'il jinclusivefor in mak-ing Wholeshoe forms. '60v .such-fasrsliown in Fig. 5.- WlVhen lsuch aivlioleshoeform l 'is made, itmay bei providediwith onefor sti ness maybe secured more. `cross bars 61 and' 62 respectively asma be `deemed desirable, orthefnecessary width of the sideflanges'.4 y

lIn my copending application, Serial No. 100,667 iiledApi-il 8, 1926, Ilia've described the blank -as having notches at its toe portion to prevent the formationotplaits yor wrinkles in the flange at this part .ofthe form. Obviously similar notches fortlie same purpose nn y he4 provided .in ,the blank shown in Fig. of the present application, the position of such notches being indcatedat N by the dotted lines. A

I claim: Y v

1*. A removable hollow fornrfor tem orary insertion in a finished or vpartially finished shoe, said. form consisting of a piece of sheetcelluloid conforming-With substantial exactitude 'to'.-the size andfcontour. of the forward portion' atleast of'arsh'oe last,

the space vvvithnthe formibeing;substan-` tially unobstructed and capable fof: recelvf y Y y `comprising'a'resilient wire coilfadapted to ing the forepartjat least of a shoe"last, said form having a permanent .unobstructed o eningl 'to permit Withdrawal of the last om the completed 'forni or-its reinsertion therein.

2. A removable hollow form. for temporary insertion in a linished orpartially iinished shoe, said form consistingof a 'piece of molded sheet celluloid .conforming with substantial exactitude to the size and contour to the forward portion atleast ofa shoe last, the form narrowing in at the rear of the ball of the last so as snucly to conform to the shank portion of the xlast, the `space within the form being substantially unobstructed and capable of receiving the forepart at least of a shoe last, thefo'rm having a permanent unobstructed opening at its'l top to permit Withdrawal ofl :the last from the completed forml for temporary tially finished vshoe,said form consisting of by .increasing the 3.' A- vremovable hollow thin-walled Y*form insertion in alinish'ed or vparcellu'lo'idshaped to fit snugly against thev .inner surface of the` upper of :1f-shoe,said'l forni having 'an inturned .marginalgilange at its lower edge and a cross llmr'securedvat within thc form being ca able of'receivlng the forepart at least ofa 5 having u permanent unobstructe -openi'ng to permit withdrawal of the last from the completed forni or its reinsertion therein.

4. A shoe form comprising a piece of ioe last the form `its'opposite ends' to the image, the-space sheet Celluloid moulded to'` tit snugly within the forepart of the 'upper of ashoe and hav? 'ing anY integral inturnedv [lange ,extending `aroundlits lower edge, anda cross'1bar` con: sisting-ofptwo supei'posed' piecesl of sheet cellnoxd, the ends ofone'piecebeing secured 'to Vthefupper surface of the flange and vthe 'ends o1 the other piecebemg'securedto the lower surface ot the vlan,ge,lthe .interme- `da teportonsv ofsaid ,pieces being united.

of. sheet VvCelluloid moulded to fitv Within 'the hollow shoe .form comprisind'a piece Y 1 `lorepa'rt of a shoe, said form having a Hat cross bur 'of sheet celluloid connecting the opposite edges of the form, and a metallic claw device lixcdly secured to the cross bar,

Suid claw device having a prong projectingv and rearwardly.

doWnu-'urdlIy shoe form consisting of thin .-G. A hol ow sheet material moulded to lit within a shoe upper, said form being open at the bottom and provided with a transverse cross bar connecting its opposite edges, and a claw device resilientlyvgripping the cross bar' and having a Arearward y and downwardly directed prono' adapted to engage the inner surface ofv 'the shoe.

7. A hellor shoe` Vform adapted to. lit

lreceive and grip the-ed ejof the cross bar between adjacent turns, tie end of said coil in'o snugly: within thev forepa'r't of the upper-,Kopf a being sharpened and bent downwardly andV- i rearwardly to provide a retaining prong.

8. A hollow'A shoe form adapted to fit snufrly within the forepart of the upper of.

a sioe, said form having a transversebar connectmg its opposite edges, and a clawY device comprising a length of sprin wire disposed in a plurality of helical coils, thev several coils being disposed side byV side, acljacent turns of each coil gripping the rear edge. of the cross bar between them, the ends of said Wire being directed downwardly and rearwardly to provide retaining prongs. 'Sicued b me at Auburn, New York, this dlay of ay, 1926. v

Y WILLIAM J. DE WITI. 

